Current Student Spotlight: Honduras
My name is Ilianne Zelaya Ramirez, and I am from Honduras. Whenever someone asks me about my Global UGRAD journey, I always like to highlight the butterfly effect: if I hadn’t been distracted from studying for my bacteriology exam in 2023 and started researching scholarship programs, I wouldn’t have had the experience to spend an entire semester in the United States. Throughout my experience as a Global UGRAD participant at Georgia College & State University (GCSU), I have developed academic skills, learned more about American culture, and visited different cities.
As a microbiology student from Honduras, my resources are very limited back home. Here in the United States, I had the opportunity to work with more advanced technology. In my major-related courses, molecular virology and molecular biotechniques, I worked on compelling research projects. In a project focused on cancer, I explored the potential of TP53 IRES activity, substituting a region of plasmid with TP53, a gene that suppresses tumors in living organisms. Then, I observed whether the gene was able to encode proteins by conducting a firefly luciferase assay, a test which produces bioluminescence as a readout of gene expression. If TP53 has functional IRES activity, it suggests the cell has a backup system for producing p53 protein during crises, which is key in preventing cancer progression. While the results of the assay were inconclusive, the data suggest that TP53 may still possess IRES activity under certain conditions, needing further investigation. Even though this was a rigorous course, I was able to learn something completely new and it sparked my interest in molecular regulatory mechanisms.
Outside of the classroom, I participated in a poetry club. With my days always busy, I felt the need to spend time on something I truly love; in the process I found myself surrounded by the greatest friends ever. I always looked forward to our weekly meetings and found myself writing a lot about the new life I was living at GCSU. This experience definitely took me out of my comfort zone, pushing me to find new ways of writing and different subjects to touch on when I created new poems.
Even with a packed schedule, I prioritized my desire for adventures. Spending three days in New York City with fellow UGRADs felt like a dream come true. While I experienced a lot in New York, one of my favorite memories will be walking down Cornelia Street and listening to the Taylor Swift song named after this street, as well as seeing the house where she lived when she wrote it.
From applying to the Global UGRAD Program, to moving from an alternate candidate to a selected one; from experiencing a semester in the United States, to writing this reflection shortly after returning home; I have given all of myself and had one of the best experiences in my life with moments that I will cherish forever. I learned so much about myself and my surroundings. Even though my time in the United State is complete, this adventure is far from finished as I use the lessons learned to continue working towards achieving my goals!